Mail-box.



Patented Mar. 5, IQDI. 0. F. LIDKE.

mm. aux. (Application filed Oct. 29, 1900.)

(No Model.)

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OTTO F. LIDKE, OF YPSILANTI, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, DY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE CENTURY RURAL MAIL BOX COMPANY, LIMITED, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

MAIL-BOX.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 669,464. dated March 5, 1901.

Application filed October 29. 1900- serial No. 34,696. (No model.)

To all whom it may .oncern:

Be it known that I, OTTO F. LIDKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ypsilanti, county of Washtenaw, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Mail-Boxes; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had .to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification,

My invention has for its object certain new and useful improvements in a mail-box, the same being more specially adapted and designed for rural delivery; and it consists of the construction, combination, and arrangement of devices hereinafterdesoribed and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a view in perspective illustrating features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section on the line 3 3, Fig. 2, showing the box closed. Fig. 4 is a similar section showing the boX opened. The object of my invention is to provide a rural-delivery mail-box of superior convenience and utility and of simple and economical construction.

I carry out my invention as follows:

In the drawings, A represents a stationary inner casing, which may be supported in any desired man ner,as upon a standard B, secured in a post C, the standard B having arms I) b, engaged with the extremities of the casing A. The casing A is in itself open at the top.

, D denotes an outer casing, the same being made open at the bottom and made oscilla tory or partially rotatable upon the open ends of the arms b b of the support B, so that when the outer casing is given a partial rotation the opening thereof will coincide with the opening of the inner casing and permit ready access into the inner casing. The outer casaspring-arm E, provided with a staple e, to pass through a corresponding opening d in the adjacent end of the casing D to receive a suitable lock F. When the outer casing is in normal position, the spring-arm E will antomatically engage the staple e through. the recess d into position to lock the two casings in closed position.

The inner casing A is provided with a mailpocket, (indicated at G,) which may be formed in any suitable manner, as by a plate 9, se-

" cured at its base to the adjacent wall of the inner casing, said plate flaring at its upper end. This pocket G is more expressly designed to receive mail, which is to be taken by the carrier. In order to indicate to the carrier whether the box contains mail to be gathered, I provide an indicator consisting, as shown, of a standard H, upon which is engaged a rotatable signal plate or device of any suitable form, (indicated at h,) made to swing upon the standard H. Thisindicatorplate h may be held in normal position by a forked bracket J upon the outer case. The plate It has a reciprocatory movement also upon the standard H, so that it may be lifted out of engagement with the forked bracket J and swung about at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the box to indicate that mail has been deposited in the box to be gathered up, but any suitable indicating mechanism may be employed for this purpose.

The lower edges of the outer casing, about the opening therein, are preferably flanged, the side edges especially being preferably flanged outwardly, as indicated at (1*, eifectnally preventing the entrance of moisture into the interior casing.

The operation of the device will readily be understood. The carrier or other party wishing to get access to the box having unlocked the lock F presses inward the spring-arm E and rotates the outer easing into open position, giving him access to the interior casing. To close the box, he simply turns the outer casing back into normal position, the springarm E engaging the staple 6 with the end of the outer casing to hold the outer casing in closed position. The adjustment of the signal device will be understood.

What I claim as my invention isl. A mail-box comprising a stationary inher casing open at the top and closed at the base thereof, an outer rotatable casing open at one side thereof and normally closing the inner casing, and means to hold the outer casing in closed position.

2. A mail-box comprising a stationary inner casing open at the top and closed at the base thereof, a support therefor, an outer casing open at one side thereof rotatable about the inner casing to register the openings in said casings, and means to hold the outer casing in closed position.

3. A mail-box comprising a stationary inner casing open at the top and closed at the base thereof, a support therefor, an outer casing normally open at the lower side thereof and closed at the top thereof and rotatable about the inner casing to register the openings in said casings, and means to hold the outer casing in closed position.

4. A mail-box comprising a stationary inner casing forming a mail-retaining receptacle open at one side thereof, a support therefor, an outer casing open at one side thereof rotatable about the inner casing to register the openings in said casings, and means to hold the outer casing in closed position.

5. A mail-box comprising an inner open casing forming a mail-retaining receptacle, a support having arms rigidly engaged With the extremities of the inner casing, an outer casing having a revoluble engagement upon said arms and open at one side thereof, and means to hold the revoluble casing in closed position.

6. A mail-box comprising an inner casing 

